Luis Suarez has sent his close friend Lionel Messi a message after surpassing him in a key goal scoring landmark.
The Atletico Madrid forward was on target in Uruguay’s two-goal victory in Chile on Wednesday night, as he opened the scoring 11 minutes from time before Fede Valverde added a late second. Messi was also in action on Tuesday - amid speculation on his club future and suggestions that he may retire from international football after this year's World Cup - but did not find the net in his nation’s 1-1 draw in Ecuador.
That means that Suarez has moved one goal clear of his former teammate at the top of the all-time record goal scorers list in CONMEBOL qualifiers. Messi has netted 28 goals in World Cup qualifying, although Suarez has played two games more than the Paris Saint-Germain star – 62 games compared to Messi’s 60.
The Argentine superstar had moved level with Suarez earlier this week when he added a late third in his nation’s three-goal win over Venezuela. However, he has now fallen behind Suarez and may never feature in another qualifier – having hinted this week at his international retirement after the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Suarez posted on Instagram after netting in Uruguay’s victory: "Special night, special match, special shirt and with a goal. What more can I ask for than to live unique and unforgettable moments with MY COUNTRY? URUGUAY URUGUAY NO MA!!!!!!!"
Guatemalan forward Carlos Ruiz has scored more goals than any other player in all World Cup qualifying sections – his 39 goals surpass Cristiano Ronaldo ’s tally of 36. Iran duo Ali Daei and Karim Bagheri – with 34 and 28 goals respectively – are also in the top five, with Poland marksman Robert Lewandowski currently on 30.
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It comes months after Messi lost two records; he is no longer in the top three of Barcelona ’s youngest ever scorers and the number of assists in a calendar year. Messi collected his seventh Ballon d'Or title as he scooped the 2021 accolade last month, but his form in the French capital has fallen far short of his sky-high expectations.
The Argentine superstar has netted just two domestic goals across 19 matches this season, although he did net five times for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League group stage campaign. Messi was however unable to score across the two legs against Real Madrid in Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s Round of 16 elimination, and even saw his penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois in the first leg.
Gavi’s first goal for Barcelona last month ensured he entered the top three youngest scorers in the club’s history, surpassing Messi as the Spaniard’s came when he was 196 days younger - 17 years and 135 days. The youngest scorer in Barca’s history remains his former teammate Ansu Fati, who netted his first goal aged 16 years and 304 days, while Bojan Krkic – who went on to play for Roma and Stoke City – ranks second, aged 17 years and 53 days. Dusan Tadic broke the world record for total assists in a calendar year after creating his 37th goal of 2021 during Ajax's defeat to AZ Alkmaar last month – eclipsing Messi’s previous world record best of 36 from 2011.
